Best format for map document

[prbureau]

Hi,
I am a relative novice when it comes to graphics and was hoping that someone may be able to help me choose the right format for an graphical map.

I have an arrangement with a company that is willing to give me the rights to use one of their street maps in exchange for some of my photography.

I would like to use the map for creating electronic guides that are printable and also for producing on-line maps for use on a web site.

The map is very detailed and even has the names of streets in it. The problem is I don't know what format to request the map so that I can produce my other documents (on-line and electronc downloadable) to ensure the greatest flexibility and clarity. Also if there are any other factors I should be requesting when they send the map?

I would be very grateful for any advice or pointers someone may have.

Thank you

JohnB

[YvetteKuhns]

The problem is I don't know what format to request the map so that I can produce my other documents

You may want your maps to be PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format which will keep everything looking exactly the same. No matter what computer or OS you use, it will look the same. Then you can do what you want with it.

Also be sure to request it in the largest possible file size that YOU need. You can size a file down and still have clarity, but stretching images will lose clarity.

You can offer your finished product in any format you choose, but try to offer formats for both Windows and nonWindows users.

[prbureau]

Hi Yvette
thanks for the feedback. one person suggested I get high resolution vector eps they said that in this way I could convert to any file format? Do you have any thoughts on that as I'm not really familiar was eps is.

JohnB

[YvetteKuhns]

EPS is okay, if you and your printer or anyone else who wants to view this file has Adobe Photoshop or another program that can open EPS files. I think that Macromedia Flash does.

When you create a file saved as EPS, it does not show the layers created in Photoshop. Since you are not planning to edit the file, you won't need the layers. Try both for sample images and see what YOU prefer.

[prbureau]

Thanks for you reply - I will request pdf . The sample pdf they sent me had an error message saying that certain fonts were incompatible and would not display. This cut out 1/4 of the map. The were not sure why this happened. So this is why I was thinking possible another format that I could convert to pdf or other formats myself and hopefully deal with the font problem during the process.

Thanks for the feedback

JohnB

[YvetteKuhns]

The sample pdf they sent me had an error message saying that certain fonts were incompatible and would not display.

You must mean PSD (PhotoShop Document). When some of my graphics designers create designs on a Mac and send the PSD to me, I open it with my PC and see the layers with the yellow triangle that has an exclamation point inside it. Those are the Mac fonts that are incompatible for my PC.

PDF will save the exact images and fonts which are compatible for any computer or OS, which is why I suggested it.

[Rick_E]

You could request a TIFF image file. They are pretty universal and are of high quality. From a TIFF you could produce a pdf, jpg or most anything else.

[YvetteKuhns]

You could request a TIFF image file. They are pretty universal and are of high quality. From a TIFF you could produce a pdf, jpg or most anything else.

This is true, but the file size on these files are HUGE! I used to use them, but the files were too big to put on cds years ago. But now you can get cds that store larger sizes.

[Rick_E]

Yes, I agree. :)

TIFF = uncompressed = large file size = high quality = lots of flexibility